The Beginnings Fund: Transforming Maternal & Newborn Health Across Africa

The launch of The Beginnings Fund in April 2025 marks a bold and timely step in advancing maternal and newborn health across Africa. Alongside global health organisations, Higherlife Foundation Co-Founder, Mrs. Tsitsi Masiyiwa, is working to close one of the most heartbreaking gaps in global health: preventable maternal and infant deaths. The Fund represents a new level of commitment to ensuring that women and babies receive the care, protection, and dignity they deserve—from the first trimester through the earliest days of life.

In Zimbabwe and across the region, thousands of women face complications during pregnancy and childbirth, often due to lack of skilled care, delayed referrals, limited transportation, or inadequate medical resources. These challenges disproportionately affect rural communities, where distances are long and health facilities are overstretched. The Beginnings Fund addresses these gaps by strengthening health facilities, supporting frontline workers, providing essential equipment, and scaling digital tools that improve clinical decision-making and emergency response.

The Fund also invests in training midwives and nurses to ensure that every woman is attended by knowledgeable and confident health professionals. It supports the introduction of innovations such as low-cost diagnostic tools, improved data systems, and mobile technology that enables faster referral pathways. By modernising maternal and newborn care, the Fund empowers health workers and improves survival rates for both mothers and infants.

For local communities, the impact is profound. Safer deliveries mean fewer tragedies and fewer long-term complications. Healthier mothers are better able to care for their families, and newborns with a strong start to life have improved developmental and educational outcomes. Over time, these gains strengthen families, build more resilient communities, and enhance socio-economic progress across the region.

Globally, the Fund contributes directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. Mrs. Masiyiwa’s leadership amplifies Africa’s voice on maternal and newborn health, placing the continent at the centre of solutions that can be scaled and replicated worldwide. By championing evidence-based interventions and cross-sector partnerships, the Fund demonstrates the power of African-led innovation in addressing long-standing health challenges.

The Beginnings Fund is more than a health initiative—it is a commitment to safeguarding the next generation and honouring the invaluable role that mothers play in shaping society. Its long-term vision is to create a continent where childbirth is safe, families thrive, and every baby has the chance to live and grow.

Saving a mother’s life changes a family.Saving a newborn’s life changes a generation.